Railroad signal system



M. W. REEDY.

RAILROAD. SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27. I9I9.

Patented Apr. 6, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET i.

M. W- REEDY.

RAILROAD SIGNAL SYSTEM. l lAPPLICATION FILED FB.27. 1919.

Patnted Apr. 6, 1920.

s SHEAETS-SHEET 2.

M. W. REEDY.

RAILROAD SIGNAL SYSTEM.

y APPLICATION FILED FEB. 27| 1919. y 1,335,919, APatented Apr. 6, 1920.

' I 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

tion are shown 1n the MAURICE W. nnnnY, orne-nona, ILLINOIS, AssIoiIon.y or ONE-HALF rro 'rane B. susanna, or AUaonA, ILLINOIS.

RAILROAD SIGNAL SYSTEM.

specification of Lettersratent.

Ilatented Apr. 6, 1920,

Application le. February 27, 1919. Serial No. 279,531.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, MAURICE W. Itnnor, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Aurora, county of Kane, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad Signal systems, of which the following isa specification. f l

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of mechanically operated automatic signal system for railroads; to provide improved mechanism for controlling the operation of v the signal means; and to provide improved means for automatically stopping a train in case it passes a signal setto indicate a closed block.

Illustrative embodiments of thisinvenaccompanying drawings, in Which-d Figure 1 isa side elevation, partly sectional, of one of the signal-operating mecha-V nisms.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. f

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of the signaling system along the track.

Fig. I is a similar view showing the arrangementof the mechanism when used in connection With street crossings for' signaling to pedestrians the approach of a train.

Fig. 5 is a detail of a modiied form-of means suitable for holding the tripping mechanism vdepressed for a certain period of time 'after thetrain passes thereover.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of signal-operating mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 7"-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6.

The signal system hereinafter described, as applied for signaling trains on the same line of track. comprises a plurality of signals I3.. C. et cetera, 'Fig located at intervals along the track, each of which is adapted to be operated by a tripping mechanisni fa. Ii. et cetera. also arrange at intervals along the track lin advance of the respective signals, to which Vthey are concables.

nected by means of The arrangement of the tripping mecha- Vof the corresponding: signa thereover, andconnected by tripper arm.

nisms is such one actuates it so as to seta signal' for the purpose ofl indicating to a following train that a certain block is occupied.` Means secure each tripping mechanism in -i-tsvretracted position until the train passes over and actuates whereupon', simultaneously with the setting l the first tripthat a train in passing over'v the nextVK tripping mechanism,

ping mechanism` is. released so that the signal actuated thereby is returned fto its neutral position. In conjunction with each of the tripping mechanisms, means Varel arranged so that if the engineer of a train, accidentally or intentionally, ignores and attempts to `pass a signal set againsthim, said means will be thrown .into position to shift an v"air valve` on the train for the purpose of setting the air brake mechanism train to astop.

In the specific embodiment herein shown, Vthe signals A, B, C, et

cetera,'are in the form of targets 1 each carrie-d on a rod orshaft '2 journaled in a standard 3 so that it may be shifted through an angle of 9G"v into and out of a position transverse to the line of track and thereby be exposed to vievv'to/the engineer o an approaching' train. A spindle 4 is arranged on the upper endof the shaft 2 on which to support a lantern for signaling at night.

The tripping mechanisms each comprise a tripper arm 5 arranged adjacent to the rail 6, so as to be actuated by a train passing links 7 and 8 to a drum 9 from which a cable 10 leads to a target 1 at the rear thereof. The tripper arm 5 is pivoted at11to`a bearing 12independently of the rail 6 and is disposed alongthe inside of the rail and normally urged upward so as to be engaged by the flange o a Wheel on the train.` It is noracting on a plunger laslidablymounted in a cylinder 15 and connected by a link 16 to the All of this mechanism andother vparts hereinafter mentioned are prefand bringing the F erably mounted and incased Within a box or housing 46 of concrete or lother suitable material located under the rails.

The cable 10 is housedwithin a line of pipe 17 between the rear end thereof is connected to a piston or plunger 18 slidably mounted in a cylinder 19 and normally urfged iby'a springQO s0 as to maintain a tension on the cable and normally urge the signal Vvand its'connected mechanism into their retracted positions. The cable is connected to its signal by means oit a bell crank lever 21 and a link 22, the latter of Which has its outer end Katjtached to thecrank 23 formed on the shaft2.

"It is :essential in a system ot' this kind that Y each tripping` mechanism be held in its depressed position after its depression by the vfirsty Wheel of thetrain passing thereover, se

as not to be intermittently actuated by succes'slve "Wheels, and also so Tas to retain vthe signal in itsN shiitedposition f predetermined length of time after'thetriiin'lias passed said trippingniechanisiii. To this'end, locking Amechanism provided forse'curingthe ltripper armi 5 in its depressed-fposit-ion. The locking inecl'ianism herein slioivgncom fprises afparvl 2l pivot'edat the cylinder l'and normally urged by aspri'ngv to engage slioulders 27 torii'iedfon the plunger lei- The releasing means for the locking mechan-isi'n comprises a. cable or link 2S lconneeting the paivl 2lwith tliecable 1`O\vhich leads to the adjacent signal whereby the ldrawing ot 1the cable 10 te Y`shift Vthe y-adiacent "signal causes the-'cable 2S toretractthe paivl 2e and release the plu-nger la, whereby the rea r- Y Ward signal to which said ti-jipper arm is at o ret-urn to its normal or neutral position. v

If preferred, another form oi" n ieans,l ich as that shown in'Fig. 5, may 'be used vtor retaining `the tripperarm 'inits depressed po sitio'n. The means shown in' this figure coniyprises a'vpiston letv operating in a cylinder 1'5", with which itfh-as air-tight connection, rand"connected to the tripper ari-ii by fmeans oi. al link *'or pitman 16v. V"lfliepisten provided Wit-h a valve 29 which is arranged so t'l'iat when the piston isf-depressed,

V"readily passes'froin'the under side thereof,

Y to; -elapse'- before Y iull-y restored' to orin oit-means may be substituted y generali v for tlfiatfsho'iifn. i-n--th-e other lig-lires, and even tripper arni vin A advance but allows for the 'under a. gradualadmission oit r`airtb side when the spring 13 tendsto restore v`thetifipper arinto its i'iorinal posi! tion. Tlievalve 29 "maybe arranged so `as to b'eset to' require any desiredlength ottime the tripper ariii 5 can/be its normal position.

Where'theform shown' in 'said 'other figures is preferred, this auxiliary means is used atthe iorWard terminal oi the signal system. sinceit does notrrequire vthe operation or' a.

in order to be restored to'-'its normal position.

'In order-to-,prevent the intentional or accidental passing ota sifgnalfbr a train, means yare'-provided=adjacent tok each of vthe tripper boxes 46, and at the- -cable is shifted for y l1- onthe 'lever thek ai r f This Ftrain which lhas been brought to a havingatteinpted to pass mechanisms, adapted to be operated thereby when the adjacent signal is set against the train, so that upon the lactuation of said tripper ii'iechanisin, said means `will causethe setting of Vthe air brake mechanism on the train. This 'means comprises a lever 3() pivotedl at 31' andfliaving a 'pin (32) and slot ('33) connection with a link 34C connected .to a member 35 shiftably mounted on the cable v10. The forward end of the member 35 is provided with a series of shoulders 36 `ivhichare adapted to be engaged byia' bell crank lever 37. pivoted at 38 and connected to the link 16 which connects the tripper arm 5 with the plunger 14. Aspringi39jnormally urgesthemember '35 rearwardly soas to move the shouldersBG out of -p'os-it-ion-tobc engaged by the bell crank `Llever A shoulder yl0 on the cable 10 is:Y arranged f'to engage the ineinber *Y setting4 the adj acent signal, the member 35 is advanced fsuiiilciently to bringgjthel shoulders 86-into positionY'tobe engaged by the bell cranklever 37,Whereupon-a subsequent depression ofthetripper arm 5 will actuate tlievbellk Crank lever-'37 so as to shift the member 35 ftorivardly still farther and thereby move the lever 3() to a vertically disposed position. The upper end 4oi the lever'is provided with a shoulder il which, together With-'the lever 39, is vdisposed so that when the leveris in its elevated or vertical lposit-ion, it will be in'position toerig-'age an arin v(not shown)Y on the engine, Whichris connected? to afvalve in the air brake system.v This arm is normally arranged so that .it enga-ged the shoulder 30, the valve ivill be shifted so as to open' thetraiirpipe and set the brakes automatically, and bring the train to av stop. A pavvl 42 is arranged adjacent to-theloiver V-end of the lever 30,',so that ivheiithe lever lever 30 remains in its elevated posit-ien is 1v Ol! the made so as'to require a ii'ianual resett A the lever 30 by a member ot the creiv'o't a signal set against it. The means for returningthe lever 30 to its retractedposition comprises -a lever attached 1tothe shaft Muto lwhich the paw] 4t2 is rigidly etBis shifted,

it retractssaid pawl and allows the lever 30 to be depressed into its retracted position. i l. s v

The signaling' mechanism vherein described b l l is equally suitablei`oruse in'cperating crossso r that when isa-i d step bv connected so that Whenthelei'ei' 'sie shoulders 9.6.

'upon the block between ing signals for warning vehicles and pedesu trians of'A the approach of a train. lNhen thus applied, only a slight'modication of the connectiens is required, as will appear from Fig. 4. In such case, the tripper arm 5 is located at the desired distance back from the crossing, and the signal 1 is located vat the crossing. The cable 10 is connected to the drum 9 so as to be wrapped around the upper side thereof. The tripper arm may be held in its depressed position by the pawl and ratchet means shown in Fig. 1, or by the air valve means shown in ln case the former is used, an auxiliary tripper arm is placed at the farther side of the crossing, which is connected by a cable 47 so as to retract the pawl after the train has passed the crossing and allow the signal and Ytripper arm to loe returned to their normal positions.

It will. also be obvious that the means for operating the crossing signal may be conibined with the signal system for trains.

The operation of the device s yiown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, is as follows:

V Assume that the train is in the blockV loetween the signals A and B, and approaches and passes over the tripping mechanism ad-. jacent to the signal B. The depression of the corresponding tripper arm 5, through the action of the links-7 and S, revolvesthe drum 9 so as to wind the cable 10 therearound. rIhe drawing of the cable shifts the signal A so as to set it against a following train a ppreaching the block between the lsignals A and B. rIhe tripper arm 5 is locked in its depressed position through the engagement of the pawl Q4 with one of the The signal A is therefore heldin its set position until the train passes out of the block between the signals B and C. As the train passes out of4 said block and depresses the tripper arm 5 adj athe corresponding drum thecable 10 connecting it with the signal B is drawn to set the signal B. The drawing of the 'cable 10 retracts the pawl Q4, whereupon the spring 13 recent to the signal C, 9 is rotated so that stores the tripper arm ad] acent to the signal "B to its normal position and allows the spring 2O acting en the piston 18 to restore the signal A to its neutral position, whereand B vis cleared.

awaitl the resetting When a following train approaches the block where the signal is set against the train, the engineer is supposed to stop and of the signal to its cleared l position. The shifting of asignal `into its signaling position causes the member 35` mounted on thefcorresponding cable, to Abe shifted forwardly so that the shoulders 36 are moved into position to Tbe therefore, the engineer should intentionally Fig. 5.'

' tral position.

or accidentally ignore the same, the tripper arm adjacent thereto would be depressed, whereupon the shifting of the bell crank lever 37 would move the member 35 forwardly and shift the lever 30 into its elevated position. The shoulder 41 on the lever 30 would then be Vin position 'to engage the arm connected to the valve inthe air brake system of the train, so as to shift said arm for setting the valve to release the air and cause the brakes on the train to be set and bring the train to a stop.

Such a depression of the tripper arm 5 would result in its beine.r locked and at the' signalto the rear of same time set the next the block intov which Vthe train had improperly entered, so that a train subsequent to it would be warned that the forward block was occupied.

The air valve onthe engine is placed in al position under the train and has no connection with any of the mechanisms in the cab, yso that the engineer cannot restart his train until he has gottendown out cab and 'obtainedy accessto said air valve and reset the same in itsnormal position. At the same time, the engineer would be required to reset the lever 3() before he proceeded with his train. vThis hexcould do only in case the precedingtrain hadl passed out of the previous block so as to return the signal which he had improperly passed, to its neu- Nhen this has taken place, the engineer may shift the lever 43 so as to retract the pawl 42, whereby the lever 30 is released so that itv may be depressed into its neutral position. Y

ln the modified form of signal-operating mechanism shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, the tripper arm 5 is arranged adjacent to the rail 6 so as to be actuated by a train passing thereover, said arm being normally urged upwardly by means of the spring mechanism within the casing 15 so as to be en- 'gaged by the flange of a wheel on the train. rlhe shaft 2 of the target 1 eXtends downwardly into the box 46 and is provided with ,a crank 48. rlhe means for shifting the target 1 comprises a shaft 49 journaled in the framework of the mechanism so as to be rotated in its bearing and to be shifted. longitudinally withl respect to the rail 6. One end of the shaft 49 is connected to the crank 4S by means of an arm 50` and a link 51 so that the rotation. of theshaft 49 through an are of about 900 will rotate the shaft i2 a corresponding amount whereby the target 1 will be shifted to the desired position. The shaft 49 is split at a point'near the arm 50 and is provided with a coupling one end of said coupling being rigidly secured to one section of said shaft and the other end of said. coupling having a pin-and-slot connection with the other section of said shaft. .By means of the coupling 50, both the signal and pass* of the.

. back to its inoperative or the shaft will shift the sections of the shaft 49 are adapted to be rotated in unison, but due to the pin-andslot connection, the longitudinal shifting of the forward section will not affect the rear section of the shaft. Y

A curved arm 53 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 49 and is disposed so as to be shifted by the bell-crank 54 through depression of the tripper arm 5. rihe bell crank lever 54 is pivotally mounted at 55 and operatively secured to a lug 56 rigidly mounted on the plunger or link 16. When the tripper arm 5 is depressed, the downward movement of the plunger 16 will shift the bell crank lever 54 so as to coact with the arm for rotating the shaft 49 through an arc of about 90O and also shifting the forward section of said shaft longitudinally with respect to the rail 6.

The restoration of the tripper' arm 5 to its normal position will not shift the arm normal position. Means are therefore provided for accomplishing' this result, as for example a manually-operated lever 57 pivotally mounted on a shoulder 58 secured to the framework ofthe mechanism. The lower end of the lever 57 is connected to the shaft 49 by means of a pair of links 59 so that the shift.- ing of the lever 57 will rotate the shaft 49. A pulley 60 is rigidly mounted on the forward end of the shaft 49 so that if desired said shaft may be rotated the required distance by means of-a chain or cable. l

The lever arm 30, which is adapted to cause the setting of the air brake mechanism on the train, is pivoted at 61 and has a pin-and-slot connection with a link 62 shiftably iounted on the shaft 49. A shoulder 63 is formed on the shaft 49 adjacent to a corresponding shoulder formed on the link 62 so that the longitudinal shifting of Y upper arm of the lever 30 to its vertical or operative position. Vhe-n the. lever is shifted to its vertical position, the arm 64 is urged-inwardly. The shoulder 65v thereby engages the lever 3() to prevent it from being accidentally returned to an-inoperat-ive position. A shoulder 66 is formed on the framework beneath the rails 6 for limiting the movement of the lever 30V when it is shifted to its vertical position. A ring 67 is secured to the shoulder 65 for manually urging the. spring arm 64 outwardly when it is again desired to lower the lever 30.

Vhen a train has passed over a signal mechanism which was set against it, the engineer is required to manually reset the arm 30 and to shift the lever 57 so as to restore the hook-shaped arm 58 to its initial position.

Although certain specific embodiments of this invention have been herein shown and described, itwill be understood that nmner- 1. In' a railroad signal system, the combination of asignal, a tripper arm arranged adjacent to the track in position to be actuated by trains passing thereover, a cable leading' from said signal to a point adjacent Vto said tripper arm, a drum journaled adjacent to said tripper arm and adapted to have said cable wrapped therearound, and alink connection between said drum and tripper arm whereby the depression of said tripper arm rotates said drum. Y

2. In a railroad signal system, the combination of a signal, a tripper arm arranged adjacent to the track in position to be actuated by trains passing thereover, a cable leading from said signal to a pOIlt adjacent to said tripper arm, a drum journaled adjacent to said tripper arm and adapted to have said cable wrapped therearound, a linkconnection between said drum and tripper arm whereby the'depression of said tripper arm rotates saidV drum, and resilient means attached to the other end of said cable and adapted to urge said cable to restore the parts connected thereto to their normal positions. p

3. In a railroad signal system, the combination of a signal havin' a cable connected thereto, means for shifting said cable to operate said signal, a tripper arm arranged adjacent the track in position to be actuated by trains passing thereover, an airvalve operating lever pivoted adjacent' said tripper arm, a member connected to said operating lever and adapted to 'be actuated' for shifting the same, mechanism on said tripper arm adapted to engager and shift said'member, means normally urging said member out of position to be engaged by said mechanism, and other. means on said cable adapted to shift said member into position to be engaged by said mechanism.

4. In a railroad signal system, the combination of a signal having a cable connected thereto, means for shifting said cable to operate said signal, a tripper arm arranged adjacent the track in position to be actuated by trains passing thereover, an airvalve operating' lever pivoted adjacent said tripper arm, a sleeve carried by saidV cable and connected to said air-valve lever, mechanism on said tripper arm adapted toengage and shift said sleeve, means normally urging said sleeve out of position to be engagedby said mechanism, a shoulder on said cable adapted to engage said sleeve whereby the drawing` of said cable shifts said sleeve into position to be engaged by said mechanism.

5. In a railroad signal system, the combination of a signal having a cable concarried by each nected thereto, means for shifting said cable to operate said signal, a tripper i arm arranged adjacent the track in position to be actuated by trains passing thereover, an airvalve oper-ating lever pivoted adjacent said tripper arm, a sleeve carried by said cable and adapted to be actuated by said tripper arm for shifting said air-valve lever, one end of said sleeve having a pin and slot connection with said air-valve lever, a shoulder formed on the other' cnd of said sleeve, a bell crank lever connected at one end to said tripper arm, a -lug formed on the other end of said bell crank lever and adapted to eng-age said shoulder for shifting said sleeve, said sleeve being shiftabley in one direction by said cable so as to shift said shoulder into position to be engaged by said lug, and a spring normally urging said sleeve in the opposite direction so as to shift said shoulder out of position to be engaged by said lug. Y 4 6. In a railroad signal system, a combination of a plurality of signals located at inl tervals along a track, a corresponding number of tripper arms also located at intervals along the track and positioned so as to be actuated by the passing of trains thereover, cables connecting each of said signals with a tripper arm located in advance thereof along the track whereby the successive actuation of said tripper arms causes the successive shifting of the respective signals into and out of signaling positions, a shoulder of said tripper arms, a pawl located adjacent to each of said tripper arms and normally urged to engage the respective shoulders for holding said tripper arms in their depressed positions, and mechanism connecting the paWl of one tripper arm with another tripper arm located in advance of said tripper arm whereby thedepression of said other tripper arm for shifting the signal connected thereto simultaneously retracts said pawl and releases said first tripper arm so as to permit the signal connected to said tripper arm to be returned to its normal position.

7. In a railroad signal system, the combination of a signal, a tripper arm arranged adjacent to the track in position to be actuated by trains passing thereover, a cable leading from said signal to a point adjacent to said tripper arm, means connected to said cable and actuated by said tripper arm for drawing said cable so as to operate said signal, a second tripper arm arranged adjacent the track and contiguous to said signal, an air-valve operating lever mounted adjacent to said second tripper arm, a connection between saidv second tripper arm and said lever adapted to permit said lever to be shifted into its operating position when said second tripper arm is depressed, said connection including coacting mechanism normally urged out of coacting relation, and means on said cable adapted to shift said coacting mechanism into coacting relation.

8. ln a railroadsignal system, the combi-k nation of a signal, a tripper arm arranged adjacent to the track in position to be actuated -by trains passing thereover, a cable leading'from said signal to said tripper arm, means connected to said cable and actuated by said tripper arm for drawing said cable so as to operate said signal, a second tripper arm arranged adjacent the track and contiguous to said signal, an air-valve operating lever mounted adjacent to said second tripper arm, a connection between said second tripper arm and said lever adapted to permit said lever to be shifted into its operating position when said second tripper arm is depressed, said connection including coacting mechanism normally urged 1 out of coacting relation, means on said cable adapted to shift said coacting mechanism into coacting relation, and means for retaining said lever in its operating position independently of said shifting mechanism. Y

9. In a railroad signal system, the combination of a signal, a tripper' arm arranged adjacent to the track ,in position to be actuated by trains passingl leading from said signal to a point adjacent to said tripper arm, means connected to said cable and actuated by said tripper arm for drawing said cable so as to operate said signal, a second tripper arm arranged adjacent the track and contiguous to said signal, an air valve operating to said second tripper arm,l a connection between said second tripper arm and said lever adapted to permit said lever to be shifted into its operating position when said second tripper arm 'is depressed, said connection including coacting mechanism normally urged out'of coacting relation, means on said cable adapted to shift said coacting mechanism into coacting relation, means for retaining said lever in its operating position independently of said shifting mechanism, and manually operated mechanism for retracting said retaining means.

l0. In a railroad signal system, a combination of a plurality of signals located at intervals along the track, a tripper arm lo cated adjacent to each of said signals, cables connecting each of said signals with the tripper arm which is located adjacent to the signal next in advance along the track, an air-valve operating lever pivoted contiguous to each of said tripper arms, a member connected to each of said air-valve levers and adapted to be actuated for shifting the same, means on each of said tripper arms adapted to engage the respective members for actuating said members so as to shift said airvalve levers when the respective tripper arms are depressed, each of said members being lever mounted adjacent to a point adjacent l so 'l thereover, a cable noinziiiy urged out of position to be engaged by the means on `che respective tripper arms, and mechanism on each of 'said cables 'adapted to Shift the respective member into position to be engaged by the means on the respective rippei" arm, whereby the shiffing of one signal into signaling position shifts the menibei' 'Whieheonneei'e with Jdie leve? ioi the adjacent uippei' erin int/o position to be actuated by said adjacent "tri'ppei1 zum.' 10

Signed at @hiesige this 2l dayof Feb., 1919.

MAURICE WV. REEDY. 

